Heavy Metal. Hard Rock. Music.

British heavy metal singer Blaze Bayley (IRON MAIDEN, WOLFSBANE) has finished mixing and mastering his upcoming collaborative acoustic EP with Belgium-based classical guitarist Thomas Zwijsen, “Russian Holiday”. In addition, Blaze and Thomas have just started a competition for the CD’s cover artwork. Fans that are creative and want to be part of this EP can send their creation to management@blazebayley.net before December 22. The winning artwork will be used on the cover and winner will be mentioned inside the booklet. He/she will also receive a free signed copy of the EP. The winning artwork will have to be available in high definition in order to be eligible.

“Russian Holiday” is expected to contain five songs, including a “full classical guitar arrangement” of the IRON MAIDEN song “Sign Of The Cross”, which the duo performed on their recent U.K. acoustic tour.

Zwijsen previously recorded an acoustic IRON MAIDEN tribute album called “Nylon Maiden”, which featured a guest appearance by Bayley on a cover version of “The Clansman”.

Zwijsen is one of the musicians who backed Bayley on Blaze‘s most recent European “The King Of Metal” tour.

Professionally filmed video footage of Bayley and Zwijsen performing an acoustic set on July 27 at The Asylum in Birmingham, England can be seen below.

The setlist was as follows:

01. Lord Of The Flies (IRON MAIDEN)
02. The Launch
03. Truth Is Revealed
04. Meant To Be
05. Stare At The Sun
06. I Like It Hot (WOLFSBANE)
07. One More Step
08. Man On The Edge (IRON MAIDEN)
09. Como Estais Amigos (IRON MAIDEN)
10. Doctor Doctor (UFO)

Bayley‘s new studio album, “The King Of Metal”, was released in March. The CD was recorded at Fear Studio in Ravenna, Italy.

The 49-year-old Bayley, who was born in Birmingham, was the original frontman in WOLFSBANE, but left in 1994 to replace Bruce Dickinson as the lead singer of IRON MAIDEN.